"When the leaves begin to crisp and fall to the ground, and flocks of birds migrate overhead, fall has arrived. " -- Jif Dillemuth, 11th Grade
For some, autumn means Taylor Swift, “I think of Taylor Swift’s 4th studio album Red” said senior Zofia-Rose Hope-Csikszentmihalyi. Sophmore Lindsey Higgins defines by watching Gilmore Girls and knitting. But there’s another release identifying and giving the season a whole new name- Pumpkin Spice season, when limited edition products create craving for the delicious flavor.
“The specific essence of pumpkin spice brings me warmth, it makes me feel good and happy.” says Mia Davillier, an OSA junior.
But despite its name, pumpkin spice made up of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and sometimes mace and cloves, doesn’t even contain pumpkin! How did this popular recipe we now recognize as a symbol of fall come to be? Let’s go all the way back to the 1600s, when the Dutch began colonizing Indonesia. According to Britannica, unlike other European colonies throughout history, seeking new land and to spread their cultures, the Dutch only wanted money. Their near 339 years of rule was almost solely based on business, with the Dutch East India Company established to profit off of their stolen territory by global trade. The archipelago of Indonesia was a perfect target to exploit for its rare spices and native home to the ingredients of pumpkin spice. At this time, they traded Speculaaskruiden, a Dutch mix using a very similar blend to pumpkin spice, but with white pepper and cardamom – other similar mixes were spread with slight variations. The Dutch East India Company created inspiration for combining spices into new flavorings and the Spice Islands made it possible.
In North America, Indigenous peoples used pumpkin for many savory meals, roasted, boiled, dried and even turned into a rich flour. European colonists used them differently when they arrived, making new recipes like pumpkin pie, said to be invented by pouring milk and honey into a pumpkin and baking it on ashes.
With the spreading of various versions of seasoning concoctions and pumpkins from the Americas came the flavor we all know and love today. In 1934, helping add the final touch in its popularization, the big spice company McCormick brought up “pumpkin pie spice” to flavor pumpkin pies.
Now, pumpkin spice products of all kinds are enjoyed once the warm season comes around. Celebrating its 20th anniversary since its release, the current face of the flavor is held by Starbucks’s pumpkin spice latte, or PSL. Since its debut, it has sold hundreds of millions in America from CNBC’s calculations, the PSL gives its fans a special taste of autumn to look forward to and obsess over.
Enthusiast Cleo Menconi said she “needs it inside of her” but not necessarily her stomach. Menconi described the flavor as earthy, comparing it to tree bark, but in a positive note. She also remarked that the drink reminded her of her favorite Michael’s candle: “I want to eat those candles but instead I drink a good ole PSL.”
Despite its huge success and part in pop culture today, the PSL’s inventor, Peter Duke and his team were initially unsure about its success. Although Duke had came up with the Peppermint Mocha and other popular festive drinks, but focus groups found it too obscure. After lots of endorsement from social media, the PSL reached its level of fame and admiration it has today.
Trader Joe’s also has its own line of awaited pumpkin products as well. OSA sophomore Lindsey Higgins recommends “The Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Jojo's, pumpkin flavored with other natural flavors, Sandwich Cookies in yogurt flavored coating with seasalt” Lindsey Higgins reads from the box she brought to share one of her favorite sweet treats of autumn with her friends. Pumpkin spice popularity only spreads as companies like Dunkin Donuts have added their spins on the seasonal snacks. But it doesn’t end there with pumpkin spice deodorant, cleaning supplies, and in 2019 a since discontinued pumpkin spice Spam has even joined the trend.
“The specific essence of pumpkin spice brings me warmth, it makes me feel good and happy.” says Mia Davillier, an OSA junior.
But despite its name, pumpkin spice made up of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and sometimes mace and cloves, doesn’t even contain pumpkin! How did this popular recipe we now recognize as a symbol of fall come to be? Let’s go all the way back to the 1600s, when the Dutch began colonizing Indonesia. According to Britannica, unlike other European colonies throughout history, seeking new land and to spread their cultures, the Dutch only wanted money. Their near 339 years of rule was almost solely based on business, with the Dutch East India Company established to profit off of their stolen territory by global trade. The archipelago of Indonesia was a perfect target to exploit for its rare spices and native home to the ingredients of pumpkin spice. At this time, they traded Speculaaskruiden, a Dutch mix using a very similar blend to pumpkin spice, but with white pepper and cardamom – other similar mixes were spread with slight variations. The Dutch East India Company created inspiration for combining spices into new flavorings and the Spice Islands made it possible.
In North America, Indigenous peoples used pumpkin for many savory meals, roasted, boiled, dried and even turned into a rich flour. European colonists used them differently when they arrived, making new recipes like pumpkin pie, said to be invented by pouring milk and honey into a pumpkin and baking it on ashes.
With the spreading of various versions of seasoning concoctions and pumpkins from the Americas came the flavor we all know and love today. In 1934, helping add the final touch in its popularization, the big spice company McCormick brought up “pumpkin pie spice” to flavor pumpkin pies.
Now, pumpkin spice products of all kinds are enjoyed once the warm season comes around. Celebrating its 20th anniversary since its release, the current face of the flavor is held by Starbucks’s pumpkin spice latte, or PSL. Since its debut, it has sold hundreds of millions in America from CNBC’s calculations, the PSL gives its fans a special taste of autumn to look forward to and obsess over.
Enthusiast Cleo Menconi said she “needs it inside of her” but not necessarily her stomach. Menconi described the flavor as earthy, comparing it to tree bark, but in a positive note. She also remarked that the drink reminded her of her favorite Michael’s candle: “I want to eat those candles but instead I drink a good ole PSL.”
Despite its huge success and part in pop culture today, the PSL’s inventor, Peter Duke and his team were initially unsure about its success. Although Duke had came up with the Peppermint Mocha and other popular festive drinks, but focus groups found it too obscure. After lots of endorsement from social media, the PSL reached its level of fame and admiration it has today.
Trader Joe’s also has its own line of awaited pumpkin products as well. OSA sophomore Lindsey Higgins recommends “The Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Jojo's, pumpkin flavored with other natural flavors, Sandwich Cookies in yogurt flavored coating with seasalt” Lindsey Higgins reads from the box she brought to share one of her favorite sweet treats of autumn with her friends. Pumpkin spice popularity only spreads as companies like Dunkin Donuts have added their spins on the seasonal snacks. But it doesn’t end there with pumpkin spice deodorant, cleaning supplies, and in 2019 a since discontinued pumpkin spice Spam has even joined the trend.
Pumpkin spice obsession today brings a whole new element to the season to soak in. Davillier thinks of it as a nice transition to the approach of her favorite holidays like Halloween and Día de Los Muertos. For Higgins, the weather and palate are closely connected, that the spice hits better when it looks more like foggy like fall, like “Gilmore Girls season” as she calls it. Many believe the release of the products are perfect, making it special and creating Pumpkin Spice season.